Message from the Superintendent: Fall 2020 Planning

Read this family message from Superintendent Susan Enfield about planning for fall 2020.

Dear Highline Families,

I am grateful for your partnership as you have taken on the role of teacher this spring in addition to everything else you are dealing with during this pandemic.

As we approach the end of the school year, I know the question on everyone’s mind is, what will fall look like? The answer is, we don’t know yet. What we do know now is that we have to be ready for a range of scenarios, from reopening school buildings to continuing distance learning.

State and federal public health authorities will determine when and to what extent schools can reopen. Based on what we are hearing now, it is likely that we will need to develop a hybrid model for the fall that combines some in-person instruction with distance learning.

We are beginning to plan for a variety of options in collaboration with our labor partners and representatives from across our schools. We will also involve families because we cannot make changes that work for students without you.

As we plan for this fall, we are also taking the opportunity to learn from this disruption. While distance learning has been challenging for some, other students are thriving. We are thinking about how we can incorporate new learning models and innovations that engage students by their individual strengths and needs. We are asking, how can schools be better and more equitable than before?

In planning for next fall and beyond, we remain grounded in our promise and the foundation of our strategic plan: Equity, Relationships, Instruction, and Support. Our plans will prioritize the health and safety of our students and staff, focus on our collective and individual social-emotional wellbeing, and accelerate learning for all students.

Within every struggle is the opportunity for growth. If anyone can come through this pandemic stronger than before, we can, because We Are Highline.